Vistors Are Welcomed

     A pair of good friends stopped by the Worldwide Korner Headquarters separately this week.When our security force informed us that they were at the front gate we gave the O.K. for them to be escorted to the main office. That was after, of course, a complete stop and frisk (pat down just didn't sound right). Anyway,  you know you can never have enough security these days.
     Seriously, oh yes, it was great to see Mike Loehrer, BHS-64, and Mel Murken, BHS-59, and his wife, Nancy. Mike  and I just had our usual great talk about our families, things we've been doing and, of course, reliving lots of memories of Boone, Iowa life in the 1960's. Mike's sister, Judy, BSH-61, is still a Boone resident and their parents are buried here so Mike always returns a few times each year from his home in Dublin, OH for a visit. He also seems to find time to get in a game of golf and did so this time, pairing up with classmate Toby Anderson.
     In our visit with Mel and Nancy Murken it was determined we hadn't seen each other for 15 years. He retired his teaching and coaching duties at Ankeny High School in 2000 and has been a Florida resident pretty much ever since. The Murken's now live in Winter Haven. They were in Boone for the Murken reunion.
     There's more to the Kornerman and Murken story and we certainly, in an hour's time together, captured lots of the highlights. Way back, about 1958, the Kornerman had returned from service with the U.S. Army and was coaxed into taking managerial duties with a team in the Boone Babe Ruth baseball league. Knowing that Mel had been a good baseball player in high school and again at Drake University, I contacted him and asked for his assistance with my Ruth team. He was happy to help me for a time prior to getting his own Ruth team to manage When the Kornerman was selected to manage the Boone Babe Ruth All Star team in 1962, I immediately chose Mel as an assistant. That team went on to win the State championship, the Regional (7 state champs) championship and went to Bridgeton, NJ to compete with just seven other teams from around the world in the Babe Ruth World Series. Yes,we lost both games in New Jersey but what an experience for a pair of single guys in their 20's taking 15 young guys, 13 to 15 years old, on a trip from Boone to Hampton, IA, to Wellington, KS and Bridgeton, NJ in a very limited time span.
     Mel went on to become the head baseball coach at Ankeny High for many years, accumulating some 500 victories and being inducted into the Iowa Baseball Coaches Hall of Fame.
     With all due respect, we must mention too that the members of that 1962 championship Ruth team three years later, 1965, under Hall of Fame coach Bill Sapp, won the Iowa High School State Championship.
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     Great to hear from another good friend from Babe Ruth days. Larry Lindmark, BHS-63, emailed a note that read, "I've lived in Red Wing, MN the past 10 years. Recently, a local resident wrote a book on all of the neighborhood grocery stores that have existed in Red Wing over the years. I wonder how many Boone neighborhood grocery stories we could remember? I grew up near Livingston's at the corner of Third and Linn. Glass pop bottles could be redeemed there. Also, I would ride my bike to Anderson's, just northeast of the hospital, buy a 10-cent loaf of bread and baseball cards. There was a store just across the street north of Page school, Rinehart's was on Benton Street, Kenny Anderson had a store on Fourth Street near Carroll and, of course, there was your parent's store, Kelley's Superette, on the north side of town. Red Wing has one neighborhood store left, Buchanan's, which specializes in meats and other items that cannot be found in the three larger stores."
     Larry's dad, Bob, passed away quite some time ago and his mother, Connie, passed away several months ago. However, a word to all those who knew and admired Connie........there will be a memorial service for her at Augustana Church in Boone at 11 a.m. on Tuesday, July 7.
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     BITS and PIECES: (1) It's back!! We mentioned quite some time back the rumors floating around about the sale of the Cedar Pointe Country Club (the former Boone Golf and Country Club) to a local buyer. It seems there's a more solid rumor now. In fact, it's been said that one of the current owners said the deal had been agreed too orally but no official papers had been signed. So, we'll wait for that official signing prior to mentioning the identity of the proposed buyer.
     (2) The old Imperial Bowling Alley is in the midst of being demolished so Westhaven, a neighbor, will take over that area for expansion. The Imperial sign is apparently a "hot" item. It and various other things will be auctioned this weekend.
     (3) Tom Peterson, BHS-67, sent a copy of his mother's 1931 BHS annual. His mother was Grace Marie Dutton and the annual was fun to scan. The Kornerman noticed quite a few familiar names.
     (4) In a recent edition, we had mentioned Iowa Fast Pitch Softball Hall of Fame pitcher Ray Burlingame of Boone. He was inducted into the Hall in 1973. Kim Ohge, a granddaughter of Ray's  was interested in more information on Ray and contacted us via Tom Peterson. Sorry Kim but the Kornerman has no further information to provide.
     (5) Old KWBG buddy Bernie Lewiston informed that he and his wife, Evelyn, have moved from West Bend to Ogden. Evelyn preached her last sermon June 14 and has joined Bernie in retirement. Bernie said it's been three moves in 14 years......from south of Ogden to Fort Dodge, to West Bend and now Ogden. They're ready to settle for good.
     (6) Vern Modeland, BHS-50, sent a picture of his camper-type vehicle "the Magic Carpet" and said, "we've gone a long, long way together." He also commented on the mention made in the last edition of Rick Houser's trip out west. Vern wrote, "I envy his trip. A viewing of the Montezuma Castle was mentioned. That is but one of many fabulous cliff dwellings of the Anasazi. The Anasazi's migration, construction, communication and culture have kept me reading, then hiking and photographing from the mouth of the Pecos River in Texas, to Chaco Canyon in New Mexico, home to 250,000 people in it's time and dreaming of more trips in Canyon DeChelley in Arizona and on and on. Thanks to our history teachers at BHS for opening so many doors and windows."
     (7) Darrell and Wilma Knox Horan informed Jerry Manriquez, BSH-57, who in turn, informed the Korner that Frances Grunewald Dyer, BHS-41, had recently passed away. Former Boone area residents, Wilma and Darrell's family moved to California before finishing high school. Wilma would have been a BHS grad in 1952 or 1953 while Darrell had completed seventh grade before moving. The family had farmed north of Boone. Darrell and his wife, Inez, now live in Bakersfield, CA..
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     Boone Connected Deaths: Juanita Welch, 93, Boone. BHS-39. Was co-partner with her late husband, Frank, in Welch Studio Photography.........Jimmy Young I, 65, Johnston, formerly of Boone. Moved to Boone in 1973 and also lived in Ogden at one time. Was a steamfitter at Iowa State University prior to 1998 retirement. Jimmy's wife, Joyce of Johnston, survives as do a son, Jimmy II, of Boone, niece Robin Morgan and nephew, Marty Young, both of Ogden............Mary Geri Newland, 76, Ogden Manor. Formerly of Boone. BSH grad............Marvin (Jim) McVicker, 86, Boone.
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     Worldwide Korner headquarters are located at 710 Aldrich, Boone, Iowa 50036-4703. Phone number is 515-432-1530. To email your stories/memories/comments/SUPPORT...........
kelleyskorner1@gmail.com.